Cottey reaches settlement in federal lawsuit

An out-of-court settlement was reached in a federal lawsuit filed last summer by three former Cottey College student-athletes against the school.

The suit –– filed in United States Courts, Western District of Missouri –– by Breauna Carter, Amalia Harris and Dajanae Wilson was formerly dismissed with prejudice on April 5.

A jury trial scheduled for March 12, 2018 in Springfield, was then canceled. (Note: A court case dismissed with prejudice, means it is dismissed permanently.)

According to an Associated Press story dated July 28, 2016, the three women “alleged in (the) lawsuit that (Cottey College) treated them differently than white students before expelling them without justification.”

The AP story continued, (Cottey) “offered them all athletic and academic scholarships for the 2015-16 school year. The lawsuit contends the school violated the women’s civil rights by creating a racially hostile environment, selectively enforcing its policies and procedures, and retaliating against them for complaining.”

Also according to the AP story, “The women allege that during the 2015-16 basketball season, Stephanie Beason, athletic director and women’s basketball coach, treated them differently than the white players. Beason also punished them more severely than white players, ridiculed them and did not give them equal playing time.”

The AP Story further noted, “The school violated its own policies and procedures throughout the semester by offering the players no chance to appeal or contest the decision (of expulsion), according to the lawsuit.”

Kansas City-based DRZ Law, LLC, who represented the plaintiffs, declined comment on Thursday. When reached by phone, Cottey College also declined to comment on the settlement.

Typically, terms of settlements are not made public. According to the civil docket pertaining to the case, the plaintiffs originally sought a jury trial and damages in excess of $75,000.